This is true but I also think it also comes down to most Thai people not wanting to learn these skills either. Kids don't care, parents don't care, teachers don't care, administration doesn't care, government doesn't care. No one gives a damn, they just want be rich. The only people who care about this topic are foreigners or foreigner obsessed Thais.
In a way the honesty is admirable, because why should they care? Life is very okay for most people in Thailand. Anyone claiming you need to be super "educated" to climb the ranks of Thai society is delusional, all you need is connections. The most competent person doesn't get hired, the most well connected person (or highest status) gets hired, and this is also true in the West. Thais knows this so what's the point?
Moreover, are the citizens of countries like the US or Bongland any better because their "critical thinking skills" and literacy are superior? Europe in general is a poor dumpster fire of a landmass where women can't even walk around at night without fearing assault or even rape. This is because of policies brought on by so called "critical thinking skills". Is it even worth commenting on the average Americans ability to reason?
There is another silver lining. If you educate your kids yourselves they will easily outshine their peers. Even just tutoring them on the weekends will make a huge difference. It's so easy to be a big fish in a small pond in this country. If you don't yet have the skills to teach your kid highschool level math and science hit the books old man.